Are XD movie screenings worthwhile?
December 9, 2015 10:49 AM   Subscribe

I would like to see Mockingjay Part 2 today. The nearby theater is playing it in standard format. A slightly farther-away theater is playing it in XD with Auro sound for twice the price. I have never been to farther-away theater, and a few online reviews of the theater say that the Auro sound system isn't great. I am concerned that the surround-sound may make it seem like the audio is not matching the video, which is a pet peeve, something I've noticed with in-home older surround-sound systems, and something that makes it impossible for me to concentrate on a film, but I have no idea if that's a valid concern. Is it a valid concern? Is XD worth twice as much as standard format? (I don't really understand what "XD" is -- is it just high-definition? -- so feel free to explain that to me, too.)

I obviously haven't been to the movies in a while. Yes, I am totally overthinking this.
posted by jaguar to Media & Arts (11 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer:
(I don't really understand what "XD" is -- is it just high-definition? -- so feel free to explain that to me, too.)
Pretty much. It's a marketing term used to describe a form of high-definition video.
Is XD worth twice as much as standard format?
That's up to you. I'd pass, but that's because I like to watch movies, not spec sheets.
I am concerned that the surround-sound may make it seem like the audio is not matching the video, which is a pet peeve, something I've noticed with in-home older surround-sound systems
While I can't comment about the specific theater in question, I will say that the delay you're referring to absolutely should not be present in a properly-configured surround setup, even an "older" in-home one. It is purely due to misconfiguration and is not a fundamental aspect of surround-sound. (The only exception might be if the film itself is incorrectly mastered, but I'd be willing to bet that is very, very rare for a release from a major studio. I've never seen that happen for a non-indie film.)
posted by -1 at 10:59 AM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


It's hard to say, it depends on how well the movie is programmed. We saw Guardians of the Galaxy that way and it was distracting. I think it could potentially add to the experience, but to me it seems more likely to distract and not be worth the money.

A lot of it felt like someone was kicking my seat from behind, and the air puffs that were supposed to simulate weapons fire were coming from the headrest, so they felt like they were going the wrong direction.

So personally I'll avoid it unless someone I trust tells me it's worthwhile for a specific movie, and spend the extra money on something I know I'll enjoy.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:13 AM on December 9, 2015


Haha, oops, I was thinking of 4DX, which is where they move the seats around and add atmospheric effects. Never mind.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 11:15 AM on December 9, 2015


I'd never pay that much extra for enhanced sound. Half the time, they ruin the enhancements by also increasing the volume, which means you either put in earplugs or risk permanent damage. Literally the only reason I'd pay more (and travel farther) is if a dear friend was a total audio snob and somehow I really wanted to go with them.
posted by SMPA at 1:56 PM on December 9, 2015


Best answer: Well, I have seen that exact movie both in regular and IMAX form, and altho I enjoyed the latter, for that particular movie I don't think enhancements of any sort make that much difference (I will say the previews of coming attractions ROCKED. Star Wars! Batman Vs Superman!) Not exactly the same as the enhancements you describe but I thought it might help you decide.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 2:10 PM on December 9, 2015


Response by poster: OK. Definitely leaning toward standard format, but I'll be leaving in 90 minutes or so, so if anyone has any further opinions, I still have time to change my mind.
posted by jaguar at 2:15 PM on December 9, 2015


Best answer: I saw "Krampus" in XD a few days ago because that's the format at the time I needed. It was more expensive but didn't seem any better than a regular movie. I was disappointed.
posted by tacodave at 3:10 PM on December 9, 2015


I have never walked out of a movie thinking "If only the screen had been bigger and/or the picture sharper...", and I've seen movies projected on bedsheets in church basements.
posted by Etrigan at 4:47 PM on December 9, 2015 [3 favorites]


Best answer: I saw Interstellar in an XD theater like a year ago and I think my eardrums are still suffering. Would avoid.
posted by Kafkaesque at 5:44 PM on December 9, 2015


Response by poster: Thanks, all! I went with the standard format, and it was totally fine, and saved me $7 plus a lot of traffic.
posted by jaguar at 7:36 PM on December 9, 2015


Understanding the Impact of Video Quality on User Engagement (archived PDF) is a long way of saying image quality matters less when people are more engaged with the content of the video. The spectacle is more notable when the story is less interesting.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:34 AM on December 10, 2015


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